Daryl Tuffey established a reputation as world cricket's first-over specialist. He developed an amazing penchant for taking wickets in the first over he bowled, both in Tests and one-day internationals. A strapping fast-medium bowler in the style of Richard Hadlee's partner of yesteryear Ewen Chatfield, Tuffey impressed as a stronger version and an admirable foil for fast bowler Shane Bond. After a quiet start, he settled into a quality groove as the sort of player capable of performing well on most surfaces. His finest hour to date was 6 for 54 to help New Zealand tie the three-Test series with England in Auckland in 2001-02. A developed into a regular member of both the Test and one-day side, he was picked for New Zealand's 2004 tour of England. However, he then suffered a series of serious injuries including, in 2005, a damaged shoulder which kept him out of the New Zealand side for the best part of two years.

Consistent performances in state cricket kept him in the frame, but it was the injury to Kyle Mills which offered him a surprise recall for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and the 2007 World Cup. His results were distinctly underwhelming, however, and after one World Cup match he slipped quietly home mid-tournament with a recurrence of his previous shoulder injury. He signed up for a stint with the then-unsanctioned, now-defunct Indian Cricket League in October 2007, and was subsequently kept out of international cricket for two years. He returned to New Zealand's Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in mid 2009, but was plagued by injuries thereafter - he suffered broken bones in his hands twice in the following six months, before straining a bicep during a one-day series in India in November 2010. In July 2011, he lost his central contract with the New Zealand board, and injury continued to plague him through the domestic season. In August 2012, he was offered a contract with Auckland for the 2012-13 season, but retired from all cricket a month later, citing his fitness issues.Lynn McConnell